Dastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodWed, 24 Jan 2018 18:53:44 +0000Wed, 14 Feb 2018 19:29:44 +0000Libsyn WebEngine 2.0http://dastardlycleverness.com
enhttp://dastardlycleverness.comdastardlycleverness@bootsroad.com (dastardlycleverness@bootsroad.com)http://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/c/5/f/7/c5f7cb0fd8988445/Dastardly-Cleverness-Podcast-LibSyn-2560x2560.pngDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodSpencer Critchleyactivism,advocacy,corporatesocialresponsibility,csr,government20,nonprofit,smartgovernment,socialchange,socialmarketingcleandastardlycleverness@bootsroad.comepisodicNorth Korea & WMD: How to Think About the UnthinkableNorth Korea & WMD: How to Think About the UnthinkableWed, 24 Jan 2018 18:53:44 +0000Spencer talks with David Schmerler, a researcher who keeps track of North Korea and its weapons of mass destruction. David says his work can be like a spy novel, or a video game — and in fact he even helped create a Minecraft simulation to help people understand what’s at stake. But knowing the difference between fiction and reality is crucial — for him, and for all of us.

David SchmerlerJames Martin Center for Nonproliferation StudiesMiddlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

]]>Spencer talks with David Schmerler, a researcher who keeps track of North Korea and its weapons of mass destruction. David says his work can be like a spy novel, or a video game — and in fact he even helped create a Minecraft simulation to help people understand what’s at stake. But knowing the difference between fiction and reality is crucial — for him, and for all of us.

David SchmerlerJames Martin Center for Nonproliferation StudiesMiddlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

]]>36:13cleanof,north,korea,nuclear,weapons,mass,wmd,destructionSpencer talks with David Schmerler, a researcher who keeps track of North Korea and its weapons of mass destruction. David says his work can be like a spy novel, or a video game — and in fact he even helped create a Minecraft simulation to help people understand what’s at stake. But knowing the difference between fiction and reality is crucial — for him, and for all of us.19fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodThe Future of Work with Kristin WolffThe Future of Work with Kristin WolffThu, 04 Jan 2018 04:31:17 +0000Everything about jobs is now open to question — including whether jobs will even exist. To sort it out, we talk this time about robots, the gig economy, income inequality, the disruption of education — even bitcoin. All that and more from someone whose job is to work on the future of work: social policy consultant Kristin Wolff.

]]>Everything about jobs is now open to question — including whether jobs will even exist. To sort it out, we talk this time about robots, the gig economy, income inequality, the disruption of education — even bitcoin. All that and more from someone whose job is to work on the future of work: social policy consultant Kristin Wolff.

]]>54:48cleanof,jobs,work,future,development,labor,employment,economic,workforcedevelopmentEverything about jobs is now open to question — including the question of whether jobs will even exist. To sort it out, we talk this time about robots, the gig economy, income inequality, the disruption of education — even bitcoin. All that and more from someone whose job is to work on the future of work: social policy consultant Kristin Wolff.
Find the show notes and links at http://dastardlycleverness.com/blog/future-work-kristin-wolff.18fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodMore Than Just Pretty Fish: This Aquarium Is a Force in Ocean PreservationMore Than Just Pretty Fish: This Aquarium Is a Force in Ocean PreservationTue, 12 Dec 2017 15:42:05 +0000The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world famous for otters, sharks, a spectacular setting — even appearances in movies such as "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and "Finding Dory," and TV shows such as "Big Little Lies" and the BBC/PBS series "Big Blue Live."

But that’s just the most visible part. The Aquarium is also a powerful force for protecting the oceans through education, advocacy, and the development of young leaders. In this episode, Spencer speaks with the Aquarium’s senior communications strategist, Ken Peterson, about the dramatic impact the Aquarium is having in ocean conservation — and the protection of all life on earth.

Ken Peterson is senior communications strategist for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In that capacity, he’s responsible for developing messages about a public aquarium that’s evolved from its beginnings as arguably the finest public aquarium in the world, to become a global leader in ocean conservation.

The scope of its activities include policy advocacy, marine research and science education involving protection of marine ecosystems and wildlife, sustainable seafood, climate change and ocean plastic pollution.

Prior to joining the aquarium in 1989, Ken was a writer and editor for 15 years with California newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News and Monterey County Herald, with a focus on coastal, land use and environmental issues.

As a member of the Mercury News staff, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for contributing to coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and is a past Jeopardy! champion.

]]>The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world famous for otters, sharks, a spectacular setting — even appearances in movies such as "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and "Finding Dory," and TV shows such as "Big Little Lies" and the BBC/PBS series "Big Blue Live."

But that’s just the most visible part. The Aquarium is also a powerful force for protecting the oceans through education, advocacy, and the development of young leaders. In this episode, Spencer speaks with the Aquarium’s senior communications strategist, Ken Peterson, about the dramatic impact the Aquarium is having in ocean conservation — and the protection of all life on earth.

Ken Peterson is senior communications strategist for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In that capacity, he’s responsible for developing messages about a public aquarium that’s evolved from its beginnings as arguably the finest public aquarium in the world, to become a global leader in ocean conservation.

The scope of its activities include policy advocacy, marine research and science education involving protection of marine ecosystems and wildlife, sustainable seafood, climate change and ocean plastic pollution.

Prior to joining the aquarium in 1989, Ken was a writer and editor for 15 years with California newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News and Monterey County Herald, with a focus on coastal, land use and environmental issues.

As a member of the Mercury News staff, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for contributing to coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and is a past Jeopardy! champion.

]]>46:15cleanplastic,environment,climate,change,marine,bay,sustainability,sanctuary,conservation,pollution,aquarium,monterey,oceans,fisheriesThe Monterey Bay Aquarium is world famous for otters, sharks, a spectacular setting — even appearances in movies and TV shows. But that’s just the most visible part. The Aquarium is also a powerful force for protecting the oceans through education, advocacy, and the development of young leaders. In this episode, Spencer speaks with the Aquarium’s Ken Peterson about the dramatic impact the Aquarium is having in ocean conservation — and the protection of all life on earth.17fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodIf We Got the First 5 Years of Life Right, It Would Change EverythingIf We Got the First 5 Years of Life Right, It Would Change EverythingSun, 26 Nov 2017 23:33:04 +0000If we could get the first five years of life right, it would transform society: less crime, less violence, less poverty, more people having happy, productive lives.

Lots of research backs that up. When young children suffer from poor health, neglect, missed learning opportunities, or trauma, they can pay for it for the rest of their lives. So do the rest of us. Many of our biggest social problems originate in troubled childhoods.

So if the goal is to make the world better, improving life for the very young is one of the best things we can do.

The people of California took a step in that direction in 1998 by passing Proposition 10. That created a state commission called First 5 and funded it with a tobacco tax. First 5 finds and supports effective early childhood programs. It also advocates on behalf of young children.

The work gets done through 58 local First 5's, one in each California county. Spencer's guest is Gabriel Sanchez, the Director of Communications for the biggest one: First LA, covering Los Angeles County.

Spencer first met Gabriel while both were doing communications work for the 2008 Obama for America campaign. As you’ll hear, Gabriel's experience includes politics, government, education, and now, trying to change the way we think about and invest in early childhood.

Southern California native Gabriel Sanchez is the Director of Communications at First 5 LA. As the principal communications and marketing strategist for the organization, Gabriel leads a department of 12 to spearhead communications, media, social marketing, public education, advertising, digital and social media, sponsorships and related activities for First 5 LA’s ongoing work to support young children and their parents across Los Angeles County.

Gabriel came to First 5 LA from Green Dot Public Schools, where he was the communications director. Previously, he was a senior strategist with The Strategy Group in Pasadena and an independent communications consultant in Orange County, serving a range of corporate, labor and political clients. He also has served in top communications roles in the offices of then-Governor Gray Davis and then-Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. During the 2008 presidential campaign, he was the California Communications Director for Obama for America.

Gabriel is a graduate of California State University Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Chicano studies. He is in the process of completing a master’s degree in political science from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. He also is a graduate of the MALDEF Leadership Development Program, and Cal State Fullerton’s Leadership Institute.

A Letter from Gabriel to His First 5 LA Communications Staff

I was thinking deeply about the “why” of what we do. We point to facts and figures on brain development. We talk about outcome areas. Yes, it’s about kids. Yet I feel we aren’t connecting with audiences.

Then I thought about how parents are the focus of our work.

What do parents do when they become parents? They re-order and re-prioritize their lives. Parents sacrifice. Parents go without. No more going out to eat, weekend getaways or fancy sportcars (if you could afford that earlier). Sleep is a like a long-lost friend you hope to see again someday.

Why? Why endure all of that? Because parents want that little human to be the best they can possibly be.

We speak that truth in the tagline below our current logo, but I offer to you we haven’t embraced it fully.

Aside from some tax credits, there isn’t any new revenue that comes in when you have a child. Your spending on baby furniture, food and clothing skyrocket. And your household income may dip if one parent chooses or has to stay home with baby. We offer tips, ideas and resources to parents to help with these priorities. We don’t ask parents to “make a greater investment in early childhood development.”

Maybe we shouldn’t ask decision makers and lawmakers either.

Rather, we should ask them to “think like a parent” and prioritize policies accordingly. We can bridge our parenting and community audiences with decision makers by messaging a “parenting approach to policies.” Parents – that, is constituents - sacrifice and re-prioritize to give their kids the best start. We should ask lawmakers to do the same, across all policies.

We should be asking decision makers and lawmakers to re-order their priorities, not make new investments, as if they too were parents and had to sacrifice for their kids.

The Mercury News last week and the NYT’s California Today newsletter capture examples of decision makers taking a parenting approach to law making. In this case, it’s because they became parents themselves and “tripped over the truth.” (h/t Dan and Chip Heath, the authors “The Power of Moments,” who say, “the way to get an idea to stick is to have someone experience it.”)

I can share my own example. I would have never lobbied my friend, then-Assembly Member Ricardo Lara, on diaper changing tables in mens’ restrooms unless I had experienced, first-hand, the frustration of needing to change my daughter’s diaper in stores that sold diapers and baby food.

I’m not sure how this can fit into the message platform development, but I wanted to share the idea.

Gabriel

]]>If we could get the first five years of life right, it would transform society: less crime, less violence, less poverty, more people having happy, productive lives.

Lots of research backs that up. When young children suffer from poor health, neglect, missed learning opportunities, or trauma, they can pay for it for the rest of their lives. So do the rest of us. Many of our biggest social problems originate in troubled childhoods.

So if the goal is to make the world better, improving life for the very young is one of the best things we can do.

The people of California took a step in that direction in 1998 by passing Proposition 10. That created a state commission called First 5 and funded it with a tobacco tax. First 5 finds and supports effective early childhood programs. It also advocates on behalf of young children.

The work gets done through 58 local First 5's, one in each California county. Spencer's guest is Gabriel Sanchez, the Director of Communications for the biggest one: First LA, covering Los Angeles County.

Spencer first met Gabriel while both were doing communications work for the 2008 Obama for America campaign. As you’ll hear, Gabriel's experience includes politics, government, education, and now, trying to change the way we think about and invest in early childhood.

Southern California native Gabriel Sanchez is the Director of Communications at First 5 LA. As the principal communications and marketing strategist for the organization, Gabriel leads a department of 12 to spearhead communications, media, social marketing, public education, advertising, digital and social media, sponsorships and related activities for First 5 LA’s ongoing work to support young children and their parents across Los Angeles County.

Gabriel came to First 5 LA from Green Dot Public Schools, where he was the communications director. Previously, he was a senior strategist with The Strategy Group in Pasadena and an independent communications consultant in Orange County, serving a range of corporate, labor and political clients. He also has served in top communications roles in the offices of then-Governor Gray Davis and then-Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. During the 2008 presidential campaign, he was the California Communications Director for Obama for America.

Gabriel is a graduate of California State University Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Chicano studies. He is in the process of completing a master’s degree in political science from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. He also is a graduate of the MALDEF Leadership Development Program, and Cal State Fullerton’s Leadership Institute.

A Letter from Gabriel to His First 5 LA Communications Staff

I was thinking deeply about the “why” of what we do. We point to facts and figures on brain development. We talk about outcome areas. Yes, it’s about kids. Yet I feel we aren’t connecting with audiences.

Then I thought about how parents are the focus of our work.

What do parents do when they become parents? They re-order and re-prioritize their lives. Parents sacrifice. Parents go without. No more going out to eat, weekend getaways or fancy sportcars (if you could afford that earlier). Sleep is a like a long-lost friend you hope to see again someday.

Why? Why endure all of that? Because parents want that little human to be the best they can possibly be.

We speak that truth in the tagline below our current logo, but I offer to you we haven’t embraced it fully.

Aside from some tax credits, there isn’t any new revenue that comes in when you have a child. Your spending on baby furniture, food and clothing skyrocket. And your household income may dip if one parent chooses or has to stay home with baby. We offer tips, ideas and resources to parents to help with these priorities. We don’t ask parents to “make a greater investment in early childhood development.”

Maybe we shouldn’t ask decision makers and lawmakers either.

Rather, we should ask them to “think like a parent” and prioritize policies accordingly. We can bridge our parenting and community audiences with decision makers by messaging a “parenting approach to policies.” Parents – that, is constituents - sacrifice and re-prioritize to give their kids the best start. We should ask lawmakers to do the same, across all policies.

We should be asking decision makers and lawmakers to re-order their priorities, not make new investments, as if they too were parents and had to sacrifice for their kids.

The Mercury News last week and the NYT’s California Today newsletter capture examples of decision makers taking a parenting approach to law making. In this case, it’s because they became parents themselves and “tripped over the truth.” (h/t Dan and Chip Heath, the authors “The Power of Moments,” who say, “the way to get an idea to stick is to have someone experience it.”)

I can share my own example. I would have never lobbied my friend, then-Assembly Member Ricardo Lara, on diaper changing tables in mens’ restrooms unless I had experienced, first-hand, the frustration of needing to change my daughter’s diaper in stores that sold diapers and baby food.

I’m not sure how this can fit into the message platform development, but I wanted to share the idea.

Gabriel

]]>31:55cleaneducation,early,development,child,childhoodIf more children got what they need between the ages of 0 and 5, it would mean less crime, less violence, less poverty, and more people having happy, productive lives. Host Spencer Critchley talks to Gabriel Sanchez, Director of Communications for First 5 LA.16fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodWe Know How to Reduce Gang Violence — If We're Willing to ActWe Know How to Reduce Gang Violence — If We're Willing to ActFri, 10 Nov 2017 01:12:40 +0000Cities across the United States struggle with gang violence, and the challenge can sometimes seem hopeless. But you may be surprised to learn that we know a lot about how to reduce gang violence — often dramatically. We just have to act on what we know.

Our guest this time is an expert on the subject, from a small but innovative California city: Salinas.

If you know about Salinas, it may be because your vegetables come from the Salinas Valley, sometimes called the Salad Bowl of the World. Maybe you know that John Steinbeck was born there. Or maybe you’ve visited, and enjoyed the scenery, the nearly perfect weather, and the charming old downtown.

What you may not know is that this rural town of 150,000 has a big-city gang problem. But it’s also a national leader in taking an innovative, evidence-based approach to reducing the violence, by dealing with it as a public health problem — one that can be prevented.

The strategy in Salinas brings together law enforcement, social service agencies, nonprofits, the faith community, and anyone else who wants to make a difference in a county-wide group called the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace, or CASP.

The director of CASP is Jose Arreola, who is also the Community Safety Administrator for the City of Salinas. (Disclosure: the City of Salinas is a client of Boots Road Group, the producer of Dastardly Cleverness.)

José Alfonso Arreola is the City of Salinas Community Safety Administrator and Director of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace. He was born and raised in San Diego, California. José graduated from San José State University.

He co-founded and was the founding Principal at Downtown College Preparatory Alviso, a middle school in North San José, California.

Prior to joining the City of Salinas, José was the Education Specialist and Extensions Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County. He currently serves as the Millennium Charter High School Board President.

José is also the site coordinator for Salinas‘s participation in the Government Alliance on Racial Equity, California Cities Violence Prevention Network and the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.

]]>Cities across the United States struggle with gang violence, and the challenge can sometimes seem hopeless. But you may be surprised to learn that we know a lot about how to reduce gang violence — often dramatically. We just have to act on what we know.

Our guest this time is an expert on the subject, from a small but innovative California city: Salinas.

If you know about Salinas, it may be because your vegetables come from the Salinas Valley, sometimes called the Salad Bowl of the World. Maybe you know that John Steinbeck was born there. Or maybe you’ve visited, and enjoyed the scenery, the nearly perfect weather, and the charming old downtown.

What you may not know is that this rural town of 150,000 has a big-city gang problem. But it’s also a national leader in taking an innovative, evidence-based approach to reducing the violence, by dealing with it as a public health problem — one that can be prevented.

The strategy in Salinas brings together law enforcement, social service agencies, nonprofits, the faith community, and anyone else who wants to make a difference in a county-wide group called the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace, or CASP.

The director of CASP is Jose Arreola, who is also the Community Safety Administrator for the City of Salinas. (Disclosure: the City of Salinas is a client of Boots Road Group, the producer of Dastardly Cleverness.)

José Alfonso Arreola is the City of Salinas Community Safety Administrator and Director of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace. He was born and raised in San Diego, California. José graduated from San José State University.

He co-founded and was the founding Principal at Downtown College Preparatory Alviso, a middle school in North San José, California.

Prior to joining the City of Salinas, José was the Education Specialist and Extensions Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County. He currently serves as the Millennium Charter High School Board President.

José is also the site coordinator for Salinas‘s participation in the Government Alliance on Racial Equity, California Cities Violence Prevention Network and the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.

]]>36:37cleanguns,violence,gangsCities across the United States struggle with gang violence, and the challenge can sometimes seem hopeless. But you may be surprised to learn that we know a lot about how to reduce gang violence — often dramatically. We just have to act on what we know.15fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of Good"Debt-Free College" & Other Ways We Could Transform Education, Jobs & the Economy with Apprenticeships"Debt-Free College" & Other Ways We Could Transform Careers & the Economy with ApprenticeshipsFri, 27 Oct 2017 04:20:15 +0000What if we could get millions of young people good jobs, free them from college debt, and give the economy a big boost? This episode's guests say we can do it — if we just follow a proven model from Switzerland, now being tried and tested with promising results here in the United States.

It's an update of an ancient concept: apprenticeships. Students attend high school while also working and learning at a real job. Everyone benefits: young people, employers, schools, and the economy overall.

]]>What if we could get millions of young people good jobs, free them from college debt, and give the economy a big boost? This episode's guests say we can do it — if we just follow a proven model from Switzerland, now being tried and tested with promising results here in the United States.

It's an update of an ancient concept: apprenticeships. Students attend high school while also working and learning at a real job. Everyone benefits: young people, employers, schools, and the economy overall.

]]>36:11cleanjobs,education,employment,youth,careers,career,economy,workforce,unemployment,technical,vocational,educations,apprenticeshipsWhat if we could get millions of young people good jobs, free them from college debt, and give the economy a big boost? This episode's guests say we can do it — if we just follow a proven model from Switzerland, now being tried and tested with promising results here in the United States.14fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodHope for Democracy, Part 3 of 3Hope for Democracy, Part 3 of 3Thu, 12 Oct 2017 18:41:36 +0000The third and final part of "Hope for Democracy:" great questions from the audience.

On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. This is Part Two of a three-part series on this event.

Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.

Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.

Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.

]]>The third and final part of "Hope for Democracy:" great questions from the audience.

On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. This is Part Two of a three-part series on this event.

Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.

Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.

Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.

]]>47:15cleanpolitics,trump,democracy,populism,brexitPart 3 of a discussion with former Congressman Sam Farr, former Obama White House official Adrienne Harris, presidential campaign veteran and local elected official Zach Friend, and presidential campaign veteran and media consultant Spencer Critchley.13fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodHope for Democracy, Part 2Hope for Democracy, Part 2Mon, 25 Sep 2017 20:42:13 +0000More from "Hope for Democracy:" the conversation resumes with former Congressman Sam Farr describing the anger and misinformation surrounding health care reform, all the panelists addressing whether public servants really want to serve the public, and more.

On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. This is Part Two of a three-part series on this event.

Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.

Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.

Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.

]]>More from "Hope for Democracy:" the conversation resumes with former Congressman Sam Farr describing the anger and misinformation surrounding health care reform, all the panelists addressing whether public servants really want to serve the public, and more.

On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media. This is Part Two of a three-part series on this event.

Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.

Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.

Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.

]]>30:38cleanpolitics,trump,democracy,populism,brexitPart 2 of a discussion with former Congressman Sam Farr, former Obama White House official Adrienne Harris, presidential campaign veteran and local elected official Zach Friend, and presidential campaign veteran and media consultant Spencer Critchley.12fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of GoodHope for Democracy, Part 1Hope for Democracy, Part 1Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:27:16 +0000Government institutions, the free press, the judiciary, the integrity of the election itself — all face doubt and even attack, from both foreign and domestic sources.

What’s the way forward?

On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media.

Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.

Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.

Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.

]]>Government institutions, the free press, the judiciary, the integrity of the election itself — all face doubt and even attack, from both foreign and domestic sources.

What’s the way forward?

On May 17 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, we heard the unique perspectives of leaders with national and local experience in government, politics, the law, and media.

Former Congressman Sam Farr represented the Central Coast in the House of Representatives for 24 years, following service in the California Assembly, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and in the Peace Corps. His record of accomplishment includes the creation of CSUMB, Pinnacles National Park, the VA Hospital in Marina, the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery and much more.

Adrienne Harris was a Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council. Before that she was with the U.S. Treasury Department, New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and election campaigns for Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, and Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Zach Friend is a policy, public affairs, and communications expert who has worked for Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Congressman Sam Farr, and the Democratic National Committee. He is the 2nd District Supervisor for Santa Cruz County.

Host Spencer Critchley is a communications consultant whose experience includes both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, stories for the CBC, NPR, the AP and others, and audio production for the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “Blink.” He is the Managing Partner of Boots Road Group, a communications firm for governments, nonprofits, and socially responsible corporations.

]]>40:32cleanpolitics,trump,democracy,populism,brexitPart 1 of a discussion with former Congressman Sam Farr, former Obama White House official Adrienne Harris, presidential campaign veteran and local elected official Zach Friend, and presidential campaign veteran and media consultant Spencer Critchley.11fullDastardly Cleverness in the Service of Good